How We Turned a Church Room into a Podcast Studio: Stories of Revival, Partnership, and Kingdom Impact
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February 2026Hey friends,Sometimes the biggest "God moments" start with the smallest steps—like a conversation over coffee, a mountain hike that changes everything, or a pastor casually saying, "Hey, we have extra rooms if you ever need space."
That's exactly how our story at Christian Podcast Studios new location began. In our latest episode, we sat down with Pastor Justin Chandler right here in the studio at Harbor Trinity Church in Costa Mesa. What unfolded was a beautiful reminder of gratitude, partnership, and how God repurposes ordinary spaces for extraordinary Kingdom work.
The Mountain That Changed Everything
Just last June (2025), after climbing Mount Whitney with my boys, God spoke to me in a profound way. Amid the healing in my knee and the breathtaking view of how far we'd come, He reminded me to look back at the 20-year journey He’s walked with Mili and me—through our immigrant life in America, struggles, pivots, and quiet faithfulness. When I came down from that mountain, I felt a fresh boldness to pursue this vision fully. I remembered Justin's open invitation from months earlier, knocked on his door again, and... the rest is history.
That room? It used to be a youth space, briefly eyed as a coffee shop, with an exposed ceiling from a long-ago fire repair that actually makes it perfect for our industrial-minimalist setup. Today, it's alive with lights, mics, and creators sharing stories that point to Jesus. From the very first day we moved furniture in, prayer and ministry were happening—even before cables were connected. It felt like confirmation: This space was opened for the Kingdom.
Harbor Trinity's Vision: A Church Building for the Whole City
Harbor Trinity's story adds even more beauty. Founded in 1955, the church has served Costa Mesa for over 70 years—through a preschool that's been running for decades, monthly food distributions that spill into the neighborhood, and now partnerships like ours. Justin's heart is clear: The building isn't just for Sundays. It's an asset entrusted by God to bless the city every day.
Inspired by places like 242 Church in Michigan (which turned their space into a true community center), Harbor Trinity keeps the doors open wide. Preschool families reconnect years later, other ministries find a home, and even non-church groups use the parking lot or rooms. It's not about ownership—it's about stewardship and impact. What if your church or space could do the same?
Welcoming Everyone the Jesus Way
We also talked openly about welcoming everyone. To anyone recording here who isn't a Christian yet—we'd love to have you. We'd say hello, welcome you to Harbor Trinity and the studio, and celebrate whatever God might do through this little room and those cameras.
Welcoming doesn't mean agreeing with everything. Jesus was the ultimate "friend of sinners"—He ate with outcasts, loved boldly, and called people to truth without compromise. The religious folks often walked away; the broken ones stayed close. We want to choose His way: friendship first, grace in action, service without strings.
Mili shared it beautifully too: We used to strive so hard to belong, but now we rest in belonging to His kingdom—to serve. Whether carrying luggage for a guest, brewing fresh lattes (Beto's barista dream is real!), or setting up cameras with care, it's all "unto the Lord." Simple daily faithfulness—parenting with grace, seeking Him each morning, showing up for others—becomes how God moves.
Revival Through Media and Everyday Faithfulness
This isn't isolated. Costa Mesa has deep revival roots. The Jesus Movement of the late '60s and early '70s started right here on the West Coast, with Calvary Chapel welcoming hippies, baptizing hundreds at the beach, and sparking a wave that changed lives globally. That same spirit feels alive again—not always in stadiums, but in everyday faithfulness: podcasts reaching thousands, clips going viral, creators producing excellent content that makes people ask, "Why do you care so much?"
Justin put it powerfully (echoing Andy Crouch in Culture Making): Christians are called to create. Not just "Christian" products for insiders, but the best possible work—coffee, clothes, music, podcasts—that reflects a great Creator. When we do that with excellence, curiosity follows: "Why invest so much?" That's the invitation to talk about Jesus.
So friends, if you're listening from anywhere in the world: What space in your life or church could God be inviting you to repurpose? A quiet room for prayer? A skill for serving neighbors? A podcast idea waiting to launch? Revival often starts small—one faithful step after another—until you look back and see the mountain you've climbed.
Listen to the full episode with Pastor Justin Chandler here (or search "Christian Podcast Justin Chandler" on your favorite platform). It's full of gratitude, laughter, and hope.
Drop a comment below or reply—we'd love to hear your story.Grateful and expectant,
Beto & Mili
Christian Podcast™
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